Door support



Dec. 17, 1935. R, n. SQHONWZER DOOR SUPPORT 2 sheets-:sheet '1 Original Filed Aug. 3, 1953 Dec. 17, 1935.

R. e. scHoNnTzER DOOR SUPPORT Original Filed Aug. 3, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 gmc/rm Patented Dec. 17, 1935 UNITED STATES r otros Application August 3, 1933, Serial No. 683,516 Renewed August 23, 1935 11 Claims.

This invention is a door support such as is 'shown in my co-pending application, Serial No. 606,941, filed April 22, i982, wherein the parts of the device have been disclosed as die castings.

The prime object of the present invention is to embody the features of invention oi my door support in a structure made up oi metal stampings.

It is also an object of the invention to enable the convenient and inexpensive production of the parts of the device and to enable the convenient assemblage thereoi into an operative device which may be conveniently mounted and which will act effectively to hold a door rigidly 154 in place and prevent rattling thereof, and is particularly applicable to the doors oi automobile bodies.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the combination and arrange- 20 ment of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appendyed claims, it oi course being understood that changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details may be made within the scope oi the claims, Without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any oi the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a iront elevation illustrating the door support of the present invention applied at the top oi an automobile door and mounted on the roof rail of an automobile body and applied thereto rom the exterior thereof;

Figure 2 is a cross sectional view en the line 2-,2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a detail perspective view oi the movable wedge member of the door support;

Figure i is a detail perspective View of the channel shaped guide member for the movable wedge member;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one of the elements of the device;

Figure 6 is a perspective View of the cover plate;

Figure '7 is a view similar to Figure l, showing the device ci the present invention mounted from the interior of the roof rail of an automobile body, taken on the line l-l oi Figure S;

Figure S is a cross sectional view on the line 8-3 of Figure '7;

Figure 9 is a cross sectional view on the line 9 9 ci Figure 8;

Figure 19 is an exterior pian view oi the 1oase member or attaching member of the device;

Figure il is a iront edge view of the device with the slidable Wedge member in place.

As in the device of my co-pending application, the present embodiment of my invention includes a base member or attaching member designated (Ci. ifi- 85) generally as i, and consisting of a metal plate stamped to provide a centrally disposed rectangular housing portion 2, the top or back of which is stamped to provide a central longitudinal channel 3. at opposite sides of rthe housing portion 2 and constitute attaching flanges ll, each of which is provided with a centrally disposed opening for the reception of a fastening means to secure the base member in place. 10

Disposed within the housing portion 2 of the base meniber l is a channel member t consisting oi a dat plate stamped to provide inwardly direct-ed flanges 'i extending along the longitudinal edges of the member and defining a guide channel having what is in effect under-cut longitudinal sides. Extending longitudinally of the body ci channel member is a slot d which opens through one end of the member and thereby produces a bifurcation. A pair of ears d are 20 stamped up at opposite ends of the member and are designed to extend through slits or openings in the top or back of the housing portion 2 oi the base member and then bent over upon the outside thereof, as well shown in Figures 9, 10, and ll oi the drawings, as to rigidly connect the channel member S with the base or attaching member. Another ear ld is stamped up between the ears t at that end of the channel member t which is opposite the open end oi the slot 8, and this ear i@ is provided With an opening Il 'for a purpose as will hereinafter be explained.

The slidable wedge member i2 of the present device is slidably mounted in and carried by the guide member ii, said wedge member being provided with beveled or under-cut longitudinal flanges i3 slidaoly received within the grooves or channels provided by the anges l oi the guide .ember ii. The top or back face oi the slidable Wedge member is straight and parallel withy the back of the guide member e, while the lower or outer face id of the wedge is inclined in the longitudinal direction ci the guide member 6. In the top or inner face oi the wedge member there is provided a longitudinal groove or recess I5 eX- tending the entire length of the member, and in the thicker end of the wedge there is an end recess !6 communicating with the longitudinal recess i5.

For the purpose of applying tension to the wedge member H is provided a helical spring il mounted upon a rod iii which has one end supported in the opening li 01' the ear il) on the guide member t. A connection between the wedge member i2 and the spring il is provided by means o a linie i9 lying in the recess i6 in the straight back of the wedge l2. One end of the link is bent or stamped to provide a shoulder or projection 2d lying in the recess I6, While the other end of the link is stamped to provide an 50 The end portions of the plate l project 5 ear 2I having an opening 22 through which one end portion of the rod I3 passes. The spring II bears at one end against the Xed abutment provided by the ear I on the guide member 6, while its opposite end bears against the abutment provided by the ear 2i on the link I9, whereby the Ywedge I2 is normally under tension resistingV longitudinal movement of the wedge in what would be termed the inward direction of movement thereof. 'Ihe rod I3 bears at opposite ends against the end walls 22 and 23 of the housing portion 2 of the base or attaching member I, and together with the spring Il' and the ears I and 2l is received within the outstanding channel portion 3 ofthe housing 2. The rod I8 is supported laterally in the ears IB and 2 I, and is held against endwise movement by the end walls 22 and 23 of the housing.

As well shown in Figure 9 of the drawings, it will be seen that the inclined, or beveled and active face portion of the wedge member I2 projects outwardly through the open side of the channel guide member 5 so as to be in position foractive engagement with a cooperating fixed wedge member such as shown at 24, in Figures 1, 2, 7 and 8 of the drawings.

Forr an understanding of the mounting and operation of the present device, reference is made to Figures l and 2 of the drawings, wherein the reference character 25 designates the roof rail of an automobile body, the said rail being. shown as a channel member as commonly employed in the construction of all-metal automobile bodies. This roof rail is stamped or pressed to provide an upstanding recess designated at 25, as shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 of the drawings, and the device of the present invention is placed upwardly into this recess or seat and is secured in place by means of suitable fastenings 21 extending through the openings 5 in the attaching flanges of the base member I and also through suitable openings in the bottom of the roof rail 25.

It is preferred to employ a cover plate, such as shown at 28 in Figure 6 or the drawings, to the under side of the device after it has been placed in position as shown in Figures 1 and 2, soas to cover as much as possible of the device without interfering with the operation thereof. This cover plate has a pair of openings 29 to receive the fastening devices 2?, and along one longitudinal'edge thereof there is an upstanding flange 30 constituting a face plate closing the open outer end of the seat or recess 26 formed in the bottom of a roofrail.

The cover plate is also provided with a slot or opening 3l, through which the slidable wedge member I2 projects downwardly so that its lower active inclined face may7 be in position for cooperative engagement with the inclined face of the accompanying stationary wedge member 24 suitably securedto the top rail 32 of the automobile door. It will, of course, be understood that there is the usual clearance space between the top rail 3,2 of the door and the roof rail 25 0f the frame of the automobile body, and this space is utilized for the mounting and reception of the Y stationary wedge member 2d and the movement of the slidable wedge member I2.

The operation of the device will be understood by reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the left hand side of Figure 2 being shown as the outer side of the door. When the door is open, the slidable wedge member I2 will be moved to the left, or in other words to the front of the device under the influence of the spring I'I and until stopped by the front wall 22 of the housing` 2. When the door 32 is swung to the right, as in closing, the stationary wedge member 24 will engage theslidable wedge member I2 and by reason of the frictional engagement vbetween theinclined faces of the two wedge members, the slidable wedge member I2 will be moved to the right against the tension of the spring I1, and when the door reaches its closed position the combined eifect of the two wedge members is to apply pres- 10 sure downwardly in the plane of the door so as to rigidly bind the latter within its frame and hold the door against rattling movements. It will, of course, be understood that, as disclosed in my prior application, Serial No. 606,941, suitable co- 15 operating wedges are provided between Ythebottom edge of the door and the bottom sill of the door frame in order to resist thek downward thrust of the deviceat the top of the door and thus tightly bind the door within its frame. 20

In Figures '7 and 8 of the drawings I have shown a slightly diiferent mounting Aof the device, Wherein the struck-up portion 26 in the roof rail-'is omitted, and the present device is applieddownwardly through the open top of the channel .alsl shaped rail 25, the bottom of the latter being provided with a slot or opening 33 in which the slidable wedge member I2 may move and through which it may project downwardly into cooperative relation with the stationary wedge member` 24. 301 In this application of the device a cover'plate' is not necessary as the door support is housedwithin the channel member 25.

In order that the present device maybe'selflubricating, I may provide the vinner face' of` the guide member 6 with a hardened surface upon which the wedge member I2'slides'. The latter may be of softer material, preferablysomeI selflubricating metallic composition, so that ready sliding of the wedge membery I2 maybe insured 46 without requiring the supplying of a lubricant to the contacting surfacesof the wedgeof the' guide member. Also the link I9 may be of softer metal than the wedge Vmember I2 so as not to linterfere Y with the ready and'proper sliding movements of 4X5 the wedge. With the wedge member made of a self-lubricating metallic composition, it would be impracticable to form an abutment thereon for Vengagement with the spring I 'I, because'the abutment wouldin all probability crack or break O II 50 in the making thereof or would break oifun'der the stress and strain of repeated use, because of the nature ofthe material, and so I have-provided the link I9 as a connection between the slidable wedge and the spring, thus enablingthe use of'55 self-lubricating material for the wedge and at' the same time insuring a strong and durable connection between the wedge and the spring.

What is claimed is:

1. A door support, comprising an attaching 00 member having a housing portion open at one side and attaching flanges, a separate guide channel member secured within the housing,I Aa wedge member within the housing, slidableinI K the guide channel and'exposed through the'open 05' side of the housing, and a spring tenslon'device for the wedge member. Y

2. A door support, comprising an attaching member having a housingv portion closedI at its back and open at its front and provided with attaching anges, a separate guide channel-secured within the housing, a wedge-member slidable in the guide channel and exposed-through the open front' of the housing, and a spring tension device for the wedge member located'-withinfl the housing and between the back of the wedge member and the back of the housing.

3. A door support of the character described comprising an attaching member having a housing portion and opposite attaching flanges, the housing having a closed back and an open front, the back of the housing having a channel portion Within the housing, a separate guide channel member secured within the housing, a wedge member slidable in the guide channel, and a spring tension device for the wedge member mounted in the channel portion of the housing.

4. A door support of the character described comprising an attaching member having a housing portion and attaching iianges, the housing having a channel portion therein, a guide channel secured within the housing, a wedge member slidable in the guide channel, a helical spring within the channel of the housing, a supporting and guiding rod for the spring, a stationary abutment within the channel portion of the housing and against which one end of the spring bears, and another abutment provided upon the wedge and bearing against the opposite end of the spring.

5. A door support of the character described comprising an attaching member having a housing portion and opposite attaching flanges, the housing having a closed back and an open front and the back of the housing being provided with a channel portion, a separate guide channel member secured within the housing, a wedge member slidable in the guide channel, a helical spring within the channel portion of the housing, a stationary abutment within the channel portion of the housing and against which one end of the spring bears, and a connection between the Wedge and the opposite end of the helical spring -consisting of a link member lying on the back of the wedge and having one end provided with a transverse shoulder lying across one end of the wedge, the opposite end of the link having a transverse shoulder constituting an abutment lying against the said opposite end of the spring.

6. A door support of the character described comprising an attaching member having a housing portion and attaching anges, the housing being provided with a channel portion, a rod extending longitudinally within the channel of the housing, a guide channel secured within the housing and provided with a transverse abutment member having an opening for receiving the rod, a helical spring embracing the rod and bearing at one end against the abutment, a wedge slidable in the guide channel and provided with a transverse abutment having an opening receiving the rod and also bearing against the other end of the spring.

7. A door support of the character described comprising an attaching member having a housing portion and attaching anges, the housing being provided with a channel, a rod extending longitudinally within the channel, a helical spring on the rod, a guide channel secured within the housing and provided with a transverse abutment portion having an opening receiving the rod and engaging one end of the spring, a wedge slidable in the guide channel, and a connection between the spring and the wedge in the form of a link lying in a recess in the back of the Wedge, one end of the link having a transverse shoulder lying in a recess in one end of the wedge,

the opposite end of the link having a transverse shoulder lying against the other end of the spring and having an opening receiving the rod.

8. A door support of the character described comprising an attaching member formed from 5 a metal plate stamped to provide a housing portion and attaching ilanges, the housing being closed at its back and open at its front, a plate metal guide channel secured Within the housing,

a Wedge member slidable in the guide channel and exposed through the open front of the housing, and a spring tension device for the wedge member.

9. A door support of the character described comprising an attaching member formed from a metal plate stamped to provide a housing portion having a channel therein and opposite attaching flanges, the back of the housing having openings therein, a plate metal guide channel located in the housing and provided with ears l projecting through the openings in the back of the housing and deformed to secure the guide channel to the housing, a wedge slidable in the guide channel, and a spring tension device for the wedge member mounted within the channel 252 portion of the housing.

10. A door support of the character described comprising an attaching member formed from a metal plate stamped to provide a housing portion having a closed back and an open front, l opposite attaching flanges and a channel portion in the housing, the back of the housing being provided with openings at opposite sides of the channel portion, a plate metal guide channel located within the housing and provided with attaching ears projecting through the openings in the back of the housing and deformed to secure the guide channel to the housing, said guide channel also having an abutment lying in the channel of the housing and provided with an opening, the guide channel also having a longitudinal slot in alignment with the abutment, a wedge slidable in the guide channel, a link lying upon the back of the wedge member, one end of the link having a lateral shoulder lying against one end of the wedge, the other end of the link having a lateral abutment projecting outwardly through the slot in the guide `channel and provided with an opening, a rod extending through the opening in the two abutments and engaging at its ends the end walls of the channel portion of the housing, and a helical spring embracing the rod and bearing at opposite -ends against the respective abutments.

11. A door support of the character described comprising an attaching member having a housing portion and attaching flanges, the housing having a closed back and an open front, a guide channel secured within the housing, a wedge member slidable in the guide channel with its active face exposed through the open front of the housing, a spring tension device for the Wedge member located within the housing and between the wedge member and the back of the housing, and a cover plate secured to the anges of the attaching member, provided with an opening through which the wedge member projects and slides, and also provided with a lateral flange constituting a face plate lying across and projecting beyond one end of the housing and its attaching flanges.

RUDOLPH I.l SCI-IONITZER. 

